Eden's Garden

Eden's 12

Hard to believe but my baby girl turned 12 last week. It's such a cliche but these years have just flown by. First words (button was Eden's first word), potty training, school, first loves (Ian in first grade. Eden wrote "he's my man" in her diary!). She has grown into a sweet, kind, smart, talented lovely young woman. One more year before she's a teenager. I just pray she stays as sweet as she is and that we can always be as close as we are now.

The New Year—Darlene

Haven’t been doing much blogging lately. We had kind of a lazy winter vacation. Did a lot of fun things (movies, Longwood Gardens, the holiday spectacular at the Comcast Center, meals with family and friends, etc.). Didn’t feel like blogging. Plus, New Years is difficult for me. My dear dad passed away on January 2, 2005. It’s incomprehensible to me that it’s been five years. The memories of that painful time are quite acute. My mom continues to struggle. It’s just extremely sad. I was never really big on New Year’s Eve, but since my dad died I dislike that holiday even more. I still have so many unresolved feelings about my dad’s death (and like anyone who has lost someone close to them, I don’t expect some of the feelings will ever be resolved). One of these days I’m going to write about it, but it’s still too fresh.

On a much happier note, our book (Star of the Week, A Story of Love, Adoption, and Brownies with Sprinkles), was named a Chicago Public Library "Best of the Best" book for 2009. This annual list is includes books the librarians feel every child in the city should own. THe list is a source of collection development for the Chicago Public Librarians.Yay! A great feather in our caps. I have to thank my new friend Liz McChesney, who is a librarian there. She wrote me shortly after our book came out to let us know how much she loves it. She is mom to adorable twin girls from China. She put a good word in for our book, I’m sure.

I’m currently working on some new ideas for the Cassidy-Li character. I’ve received a lot of feedback that she would be a great recurring character. She smart, cute and brave. A good, strong girl character. I hope this endorsement will help us bring some new Cassidy-Li books to market.

Would love to know if there are any specific topics people would like Eden or me to discuss on this blog (or on the Facebook page). We’d be happy to address them. 

Happy New Year!